Adrian Newey: Surprised by Praise, Prefers Obscurity

F1 legend Adrian Newey shares his unexpected reaction to the acclaim following his Red Bull exit.

Adrian Newey was somewhat unsure how to handle the reaction to his shocking departure from Red Bull, with the legendary Formula 1 designer stating that he had always been “quite happy to fly under the radar.”

It was confirmed ahead of the Miami Grand Prix that Newey’s involvement with the Red Bull team had come to an end, at least on the F1 side, as he prepares to say farewell after the first quarter of 2025.

With 25 titles won in cars designed under Newey’s leadership, the 65-year-old has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest ever in the sport, a fact widely acknowledged by drivers and teams speaking out in Miami.

Asked about this unanimous recognition of his significant achievements in F1, Newey responded, “Surprised, to be honest.”

“I mean, I’ve been doing the job that I’ve always wanted to do since I was a child. It’s my passion.”

“And I enjoy working with the drivers, the team’s engineers, all the other mechanics at the factory, etc. That’s what drives me.”

“The other side, the fame, is something that, I suppose, comes with the package, but it’s not something I think about. So it was a bit of a shock and almost a surprise to see so much praise. It was touching.”

When asked if fame was an unwelcome distraction, Newey said it was more about figuring out how to continue to fly under the radar.

“No, it’s not an unwelcome distraction, just something that… I don’t know how to say it.”

“It’s probably more of a surprise than anything because I never think about it, so the stats and all that are not what motivate me, it’s what I do and I just keep working as usual, in my corner, and I’m very happy with that.”